I'm Jatin Alla—an HCI researcher who spent 4 years studying how AI creates addiction and loneliness at UCSC and Google Research. Now I'm building AI that does the opposite: Kairos AI helps people develop the self-awareness and emotional skills to form genuine human connection.
In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness a public health crisis. Suicide and depression rates are rising in correlation with social media use. Recently, a 14-year-old boy died after forming a parasocial relationship with a Character.ai chatbot—his primary emotional connection was with an AI, not humans.
We have more tools for connection than ever, yet we're experiencing unprecedented isolation. Why? Because AI systems are designed to maximize engagement, not human flourishing. They exploit our need for connection rather than fulfill it.
Kairos AI is different. We use AI to enhance human connection, not replace it. We combine AI pattern recognition with live human coaching to help you understand WHY you feel disconnected, WHERE your patterns come from, and HOW to rewire them.
When I moved from India to America at age 7—a chronically ill kid who didn't speak English—I was completely lost. What saved me? Simple human presence. Face-to-face conversations. Shared laughter. Just being with someone. Those moments taught me who I was and how to navigate a foreign world.
Then, in middle school, I watched something heartbreaking: my friends started replacing those moments with screens. Instagram feeds measuring self-worth. Twitter echo chambers. Social media clout chasing that left everyone more anxious and lonely.
And I wasn't immune. I got caught in it too—endlessly scrolling for that same comfort, but finding only temporary hits. The thing that was supposed to connect me was making me numb.
That tension drove my entire career. At UC Santa Cruz, I co-founded CAVEAT—an ethics center studying how Twitter's algorithms create echo chambers. At Google Research, I explored whether AI could support well-being without creating dependency.
Then I read about the 14-year-old boy who died after forming his primary emotional relationship with an AI chatbot. I realized: If AI is powerful enough to fill the void where human connection should be, we have a moral obligation to design AI that guides people TOWARD genuine connection, not away from it.
That's why I created Kairos.
Our AI analyzes your emotional responses, behavioral triggers, and growth patterns across sessions. It spots what you might not see yourself—intellectualizing emotions, recurring attachment wounds, dissociation during stress.
Shalini and I (the co-founders) deliver every coaching session. We use ancient wisdom frameworks—Enneagram, somatic practices, chakra work—informed by AI insights to guide your transformation.
We don't just manage symptoms. We help you understand WHY you're anxious, WHERE your patterns come from, and HOW to rewire them at a somatic and energetic level.
We launched our first coaching sessions in September 2025 with 4 brave participants who are helping us refine our approach. We're learning from every session, iterating on our AI models, and building this in public.
Here's what early clients are experiencing:
Went from emotional dissociation to successfully regulating his heart rate during high-stress situations
5 sessions
Had a breakthrough recognizing 35 years of unprocessed attachment wounds and began healing
6 sessions
Surfaced deep, unprocessed grief through chakra clearing work that he'd been carrying for years
Multiple sessions
My solo podcast exploring life's transformative moments through unhurried, authentic conversations.
Early stages, already diving deep:
Outside of research and Kairos, I practice photography as a form of mindfulness—a way to be fully present with fleeting moments. It's another practice in the art of genuine connection: with the world, with beauty, with the present moment.
Work directly with Jatin and Shalini in a transformational coaching program combining AI insights with ancient wisdom practices.
Get updates on our research, beta learnings, and insights on building technology that enhances human connection.
Have thoughts on AI ethics? Want to collaborate? Just want to talk about this mission? I'm here for it.
Let's talk about building technology that enhances human connection
I read and respond to every message personally. Whether you're interested in beta coaching, want to discuss AI ethics, or just want to share your thoughts—I'd love to hear from you.